Bobcat M0514 Charge Pressure Code and the Right Next Step
Bobcat M0514 charge pressure code, explained with the full M05xx ladder, nine owner reports, and why a gauge test beats buying a new sensor.
Table of Contents
Bobcat M0514: what it means and whether to keep running
M0514 is the Bobcat service code for Hydraulic Charge Pressure Extremely Low. On Bobcat’s loader code list it sits directly below M0515, Hydraulic Charge Pressure In Shutdown.
✅ Do This: Lower the attachment to the ground, stop work, and do not keep restarting. Have a technician verify charge pressure with a gauge before the machine works again.
Stop or keep running?
Stop. The next code on the ladder is a shutdown code, and owner reports show both codes often appear together. Our guide to which Bobcat codes are stop-work codes covers the rest of the list.
If the machine already shut down
If the lift arms are raised, do not go under them or improvise a way to lower them. Follow the lowering and lift-arm support procedure in your machine’s Operation & Maintenance Manual. Is it a rental unit? Call the rental company before touching anything.
ℹ️ Safety Note: Hydraulic fluid escaping under pressure through a pinhole can penetrate skin. Treat any suspected injection as a medical emergency, even if it looks minor. A machine that shuts down unexpectedly can also leave the lift arms raised, and NIOSH has documented fatalities from working under unsupported arms. The information here is for general understanding: have a qualified technician do any charge-circuit testing, follow your machine’s manual, and see NIOSH’s skid-steer loader injury prevention alert.
M0509, M0514, M0515: where M0514 sits on the charge-pressure ladder
M0514 is one step in a seven-code family that tracks hydraulic charge pressure.
The full M05xx family
| Code | Bobcat description | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| M0509 | Hydraulic Charge Pressure Low | Bobcat loaders showing M-format (Gateway/main controller) codes |
| M0510 | Hydraulic Charge Pressure High | Same |
| M0511 | Hydraulic Charge Pressure Extremely High | Same |
| M0514 | Hydraulic Charge Pressure Extremely Low | Same |
| M0515 | Hydraulic Charge Pressure In Shutdown | Same |
| M0521 | Hydraulic Charge Pressure Out Of Range High | Same |
| M0522 | Hydraulic Charge Pressure Out Of Range Low | Same |
Source: Bobcat’s loader service code list (revisions dated June 2009, September 2015, and 2017), as reproduced by third parties. Axle & Haul has not seen Bobcat’s original copy. Last verified September 23, 2026.
Bobcat’s list gives only the names. What “Out Of Range” means electrically is not defined there, so this article does not interpret it. Your model’s service manual is the authority on that.
M0514 vs M0515
M0514 means the controller is reading charge pressure as extremely low. M0515 is the named shutdown step above it. Most documented owner reports show both codes on the same machine.
Seeing 05-14 instead?
Older Bobcat machines use a two-part number format. A technician answering a 2015 question about a Bobcat 430 gave the older equivalents as 05-09 (Low), 05-14 (Extremely Low), and 05-15 (In Shutdown). Here’s why older Bobcats show 05-14 instead of M0514.
What owners reported when M0514 appeared
Documented owner reports indicate that M0514 has no single cause. We reviewed nine reports dated 2015–2026.
When it showed up
| Machine | Report | What was reported |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 S160, 1,330 hr | Skidsteerforum, Dec 2015 | Code, then shutdown; the machine had sat unused. The owner says his dealer named three likely causes: drive belt tension, the sensor, or a bad ground |
| 2011 S130, ~100 hr | Skidsteerforum, Apr 2016 | After changing the main hydraulic filter and engine oil, it ran about 30 seconds and quit (M0514 + M0515) |
| S175 | HeavyEquipmentForums, Dec 2024 | M0514 + M0515 on a machine running normally; pump belt, pulleys, and filter checked clean; owner suspected the sensor; unresolved |
| S650 | JustAnswer | Intermittent shutdown; a new sensor and then a new charge pump did not cure it; owner gauge readings dropped once hot |
| T450 | JustAnswer, Aug 2020 | Pump noise and a sudden loss of functions; the technician suspected a broken pump input shaft or pump failure and advised not restarting |
| T450 | JustAnswer, Jan 2025 | Code persisted after the sensor on the fan motor was replaced |
| Model not stated | JustAnswer, Apr 2023 | Appeared after cylinder and hose repairs, with suspected rainwater in the system; the technician pointed to charge pump failure |
| T595 | JustAnswer, Jul 2020 | Code only; no resolution documented |
| T870 | JustAnswer, Jul 2026 | Stopped moving (per the page title); the page’s AI summary misreads the code as a hydraulic or transmission fault |
Owner and forum reports, not confirmed root causes. Reviewed September 23, 2026.
What was suspected or found
Across the nine reports, the causes named were the sensor, the charge pump or its drive, and fluid problems after service work or water getting in. Two cases appeared right after fluid, filter, or hose work, and one after the machine had sat unused.
What didn’t fix it
Replacing the sensor without first confirming pressure failed twice: on the S650 and on the 2025 T450. On the S650, a new charge pump failed too. One owner noticed the machine ran normally with the sensor unplugged, which is a finding to report to your technician, never a workaround. NIOSH is blunt that operators should never modify or bypass safety devices.
Bad sensor or real low charge pressure? How it’s confirmed
The same code can mean a failing $-scale sensor or a failing pump, and only a pressure test separates them.
🔍 Why It Fails: The charge pump keeps the hydraulic and drive circuits supplied with oil at a steady low pressure. Air, contamination, low oil, or a worn pump can drop that pressure. A failing sensor or wiring can also report a low reading when the real pressure is fine.
The gauge test comes first
A technician compares a mechanical gauge reading against the charge-pressure spec for your model and serial number. They also check the sensor’s supply and signal. We publish no psi figure here, because the only numbers we found were owner gauge readings, not Bobcat specs.
What metal in the filter means
One technician advises checking the hydraulic filter for fine, glitter-like metal. It can point to charge pump wear. If metal or debris is found, that technician says the job becomes pump replacement plus a system flush.
Why swapping the sensor first can waste money
In the S650 and 2025 T450 reports, a new sensor did not clear the code.
✅ Do This: Ask a certified heavy equipment technician for three things: the charge pressure reading cold and hot against your model’s spec, the sensor voltage check result, and what the filter showed.
What you can check yourself before the tech arrives
Stick to the checks your machine’s Operation & Maintenance Manual lists as owner service.
Fluid level and type
With the engine off, the attachment lowered, and the machine cooled, check the hydraulic fluid level the way your O&M Manual describes. Note whether the fluid looks milky, which can mean water, or dark and burnt.
Filter condition and recent service
Tell your technician about any filter change, fluid change, or hose repair in recent weeks. In the documented reports, two cases followed that kind of work.
What to leave alone
⚠️ Hazard: Hot hydraulic fluid under pressure can burn or inject through skin. Anything beyond the O&M Manual checks, including opening lines, installing gauges, or testing sensors with the engine running, belongs to a qualified Bobcat technician. Never work under raised lift arms that are not supported.
Sensor, charge pump, or hydrostatic pump: the cost decision
Repair cost depends on which part the pressure test implicates.
Cheapest-to-costliest repair paths
In rising order, the paths are a sensor or wiring fix, then a charge pump, then a main hydrostatic pump job with system flushing. We have not published price figures because we could not verify dated regional quotes.
When contamination widens the job
Metal in the filter moves the job up that scale, because flushing and possibly more parts come into play.
Repair or replace on a high-hour machine
🧮 Run the Numbers: If the quote lands at pump level, enter your model, year, and hours in the Used Equipment Hour-Value Estimator and compare the machine’s value against the repair quote.
What to tell the dealer about your M0514
A complete report speeds up diagnosis and cuts down on guesswork.
Machine details
- The product ID or serial number, plus the hours
- Every active code, including whether M0515 appeared too
- The code list that matches your machine; confirm the code list for your serial number
What happened when it set
- Whether the machine was hot or cold, idling or under load, and whether it shut down
- Any recent filter, fluid, or hose work, or water exposure
- Anything already replaced
FAQ
1. What does Bobcat code M0514 mean?
Bobcat code M0514 means Hydraulic Charge Pressure Extremely Low. On Bobcat’s loader code list, it sits directly below M0515, the shutdown code.
2. Can I keep running a Bobcat with M0514?
No. M0514 sits one step below Bobcat’s charge-pressure shutdown code. Stop, lower the attachment, and have a technician test charge pressure.
3. What’s the difference between M0514 and M0515?
M0514 means charge pressure is reading extremely low. M0515 is the named shutdown step above it, and documented reports often show both.
4. Is M0514 usually a bad sensor?
Not reliably. In two documented reports, a new sensor did not clear M0514. Have a technician test charge pressure before replacing parts.
5. What causes low charge pressure on a Bobcat?
Reports and technician answers point to a worn charge pump or drive, air or water in the oil, low fluid, or sensor faults. A gauge test by a technician tells them apart.
6. Does M0514 mean the charge pump is bad?
Not necessarily. Metal found in the hydraulic filter points toward pump wear, but a gauge test confirms it. Have a technician check both.
7. Why did M0514 show up after a filter change?
Two documented M0514 cases followed filter, fluid, or hose work. Report the recent service to your technician so they can check the fluid and system first.
8. Is 05-14 the same as M0514?
One technician’s answer lists 05-14 as Hydraulic Charge Pressure Extremely Low on older two-part Bobcat code lists. Confirm the list for your serial number.
9. How do I clear Bobcat code M0514?
Clearing M0514 without fixing the cause won’t make the machine safe to work. A technician confirms charge pressure first, then clears codes during the repair.
Where this leaves you
You know what M0514 means, how close it sits to a shutdown code, and why a gauge test should come before any parts purchase. Your next question is likely whether it’s the sensor or the pump. Only the test answers that, so check your serial number’s code list before calling.
✅ Do This: Book a certified heavy equipment technician and ask for the charge pressure reading hot and cold against your model’s spec before approving any parts.
